BBC Learning English are on tour. This week 16th to 20th October we are travelling around England visiting schools, colleges and universities and meeting learners and teachers.

One of the cities we are visiting is Manchester and our colleagues at BBC Manchester have recorded this special feature about James Hickman - 'A True Mancunian'. ('Mancunian' is the term for someone who comes from Manchester).

This is an extended listening passage. You can download the transcript and the programme from the 'Extras' section below.

Before you listen to the programme look at the following comprehension questions. You can hear the answers in the programme and check your understanding by trying the quiz below.

1: Where did James Hickman win his third World Championship medal?
2: What does he say helped to turn Manchester into a fantastic city?
3: How did James feel about his result in the 200 metres butterfly in the 2002 Commonwealth Games?
4: What did James do after he retired from swimming?
5: Which Manchester football team does James support?
6: What record mentioned in the programme does James hold?

Listen
	A True Mancunian

Vocabulary from the programme

to go for a dip
to go swimming

fixed to his roots
attached to where he was born and brought up

a vibrant city
a city with lots of life, where many exciting things are happening

the Hacienda
a large Manchester nightclub (1982 - 1997)

to take out
to destroy

Example
The earthquake took out two city blocks

regeneration
the process of rebuilding and improving an area

Commonwealth Games
a sporting event held every four years, similar to the Olympics but only for countries of the Commonwealth of Nations (made of the UK and mostly former British colonies)

to clinch
to win

Example
After years of trying she finally clinched a gold medal in the 100 metres

tally
number or quantity of things

Example
In the last Olympics the UK's tally of medals was very disappointing

fly / butterfly
a kind of swimming style

to defend a title
to win a competition again the next time that it is held

to go out on a high
to end something in a successful way

Example
She wanted to go out on a high by winning her last race before retirement

thriving
growing and successful

the blues
Manchester City Football Club

the reds
Manchester United Football Club

to be on the map
to be well-known

grit and determination
bravery, mental strength and the ability to carry on when times are hard

to kick back with friends
to spend time relaxing and having fun with friends

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Extras
Try the comprehension questions
Programme script (pdf - 23k)
Download this programme (mp3 - 2 mb)